In a bold step towards reshaping the future of African industry, international technology transfer is emerging as a crucial catalyst in the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors and the acceleration of sustainable, green industrialisation across the continent.
By harnessing Africa’s remarkable abundance of renewable energy resources—including solar, wind, hydro and geothermal—the collaborative efforts between African and global innovators are laying the groundwork for a new era of climate-smart growth.
Africa stands uniquely positioned, endowed with some of the world’s most significant untapped renewable energy potential. The continent’s vast solar irradiation, robust wind corridors, powerful river systems, geothermal hotspots, and burgeoning hydrogen innovation hubs offer a unique opportunity to leapfrog traditional, carbon-intensive models of development. International technology transfer not only brings advanced know-how and proven solutions, but also fosters capacity building, local innovation, and the scaling of clean energy infrastructure.
Under a new initiative billed as the largest of its kind, seven countries, including Namibia, Egypt and South Africa, will be able to access finance from a coalition of development banks and funds to deal specifically with greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industry. The US$12.5 billion (about N$225 billion) Climate Investment Fund (CIF) will lead the programme by offering concessional loans of up to US$250 million each to the countries with the aim of drawing additional funds from multilateral development banks, the private sector and other investors.
Tariye Gbadegesin, Chief Executive Officer of the CIF, one of the world’s largest dedicated climate investment funds, said decarbonising economies was crucial to “securing long-term prosperity and the jobs of tomorrow. The global race to decarbonise industry has begun, and emerging markets are out front”.
In an interview conducted ahead of the second edition of the Global African Hydrogen Summit, Gaudentia Kröhne, Deputy Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy of Namibia, outlined the country’s strategy to become Africa’s green hydrogen leader through world-class resources and strategic positioning.
“Namibia is not just aiming to export green hydrogen but to create value-added products such as green ammonia and green iron that support decarbonisation worldwide, while building new clean industrial clusters domestically,” Deputy Minister Kröhne stated.
Through strategic partnerships, African industries in sectors such as cement, steel, chemicals, and transport—traditionally among the most challenging to decarbonise—are now implementing breakthrough technologies. These include green hydrogen-fuelled processes, electrified production systems powered by renewables, and innovative methods for energy storage and management. Such collaboration ensures that Africa’s industrialisation can be both inclusive and sustainable, generating green jobs and positioning the region as a leader in the global green economy.
Countries such as China and Japan are sharing advances in solar photovoltaic manufacturing, hydrogen storage, and fuel cell development, while European partners are providing expertise in wind farm operation, grid integration, and policy frameworks for emerging green markets.
Dr Ziyuan Wang, Vice Chairman of the China Hydrogen Development and Innovation Alliance for Urban Gas (CHAG), highlights that: “Africa’s rich mineral reserves provide a solid foundation for an energy revolution. This enables the localisation and self-sufficiency of the hydrogen industrial chain.”
This co-creation extends beyond hardware, encompassing best practices in workforce upskilling, regulatory harmonisation, and the development of robust trade corridors. Such efforts ensure that green molecules and electrons produced in Africa can be efficiently traded and exported, supplying global markets and offsetting emissions in regions where decarbonisation is more challenging or costly.
Dr Markus Thill, President Region Africa, Bosch Group, sees hydrogen as indispensable for a climate-neutral future.
“Bosch is deeply committed to making hydrogen a cornerstone of the climate-neutral world. Through strategic investments in hydrogen fuel cells, engines, infrastructure, and electrolyser technologies, the company is setting a bold course toward sustainability and industrial innovation. Hydrogen offers a pathway not only to cleaner mobility but also to a broad-based industrial transformation,” says Dr Thill. The momentum for co-creation between African stakeholders and international partners is rapidly growing. It is a testament to the power of shared expertise and vision in building resilient economies, safeguarding the environment, and empowering communities. This partnership is not just a pathway to decarbonisation—it is a blueprint for Africa’s green industrial revolution.
